1970s

The 1970s saw headlines about Watergate, Patty Hearst, Ted Bundy, Vietnam, presidential resignations, computers, Elvis and "Star Wars." In Portage, Divine Savior Hospital and Nursing Home was again expanding its services to focus on areas such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, social services, speech-hearing, pastoral care along with traditional inpatient, surgical, emergency and intensive care.

"Volunteen" Lynn Bauhs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bauhs, Portage, plays with Lisa Ann Hilgendorf, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hilgendorf Jr., also of Portage. Lynn worked in pediatrics at Divine Savior Hospital and was one of 14 Volunteens who were "capped" at ceremonies on Sunday, March 15, at the nursing home. A cap represented 30 hours of volunteer service.

Sister Elaine Czarnezki, SDS, was at Divine Savior from 1975-1985, when she served as a staff member of the Pastoral Care Department and later became the director.

One of the services introduced during the 1970s at Divine Savior was a $5,000 audiometric isolation booth. Here, the audiologist uses the auditiometer and booth to test the hearing of Lola Smits.

Mrs. Rudy Maass, left, and Mrs. Robert Hoffman made the first hot meal deliveries for Meals on Wheels, a program sponsored by the Portage Ministerial Association. The meals were prepared and packaged by Adelaide Meyers, right, food service supervisor at Divine Savior Nursing Home. To this day, Divine Savior Healthcare prepares meals for the Meals on Wheels Program in Portage.

Remodeling the emergency room area included redecorating too. Behind Mrs. Julie Mack, RN, and Sister Virginia Erickson, director of nurses, is a wall-sized "X" to mark the x-ray area, and on the opposite wall is a similar "E" designating the emergency room.

photo gallery

NEWS ARTICLE

Portage Daily Register

Small Intensive Care Ward Opened at Divine Savior

Sister Virginia, director of nursing at Divine Savior Hospital, announced the opening today of a specially-equipped four-bed intensive care ward.

"The unit was developed to provide a facility for the acutely ill medical or surgical patient who requires constant observation and individualized medical and nursing care," she said.

"A core module at the head of each bed is equipped with special monitors and alarm systems to follow the performance of the heart more closely."

4,788

Patients admitted from August 1974 to August 1975

15

Number of physicians in 1975

QUOTABLE

"The most important phase of the reorganization of Divine Savior Hospital and Nursing Home is the establishment of the New Board of Directors with community representation. Having lay representatives from the community on the board will provide a better understanding of the community needs when decisions are made affecting the services and facilities of the hospital and nursing home."